MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Peruvian president counts with the support of 68 out of 130 benches in Congress

The president’s party ‘Gana Peru’ has 47 seats

A working alliance of 68 members in the one-chamber Congress of 130 benches will be supporting the government of Peruvian president-elect Ollanta Humala who is to be sworn in on Thursday 28 July.

Humala’s ‘Gana Peru’ has 47 seats in the new congress and ‘Peru Posible’ chaired by former president Alejandro Toledo (2001/2006), 21, completing a majority of 68 that could increase with the support of a few extra members from minority parties.

The first act of the ruling alliance in the new Congress on its first day, Wednesday, was naming Daniel Abugattás, a close ally of Humala as president of the Legislative, who will be backed by Manuel Merino from Peru Posible.

The consensus list with Abugattás and Merino plus two alternative names received the support of 97 out of 109 lawmakers present.

Their first job on Thursday will be to take to the oath to president-elect Humala who will be holding office for the next five years.

The opposition will be clearly led by Keiko Fujimori and her ‘Fuerza 2011’ group with 37 members. The conservative daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori lost in the run-off with Humala.